The evening world., 1887-12-24

de Confedorates, yer kno'-dey thout hit
war best ter git up and git outer dar an let
Marse Morgin kno all bout IL. yer kno'. But
wasn't able ter march myself dat night.
Leastways. l got lost in dat dar swamp, an
mex mornin' blundored inter de camp an
got TUX prisner, l did. So l 'cluded ter
change sides, an been wukkin' fer myself
ebber since. Dat was de sort oh Christmas
fer me. Marse ~Cap'n-sholy was"
But l never heard Of that BEFORE" said
the Captain in surprise.
"'Spect not" said the porter with q shrug.
" Hit all so, do, an / went back to Nashville
with you uns. an stayed dar till mos de
s'render, an den come Norf."
Why didn't you tell us apout those rebsp"
wal, We see, in de fus' place nobody AK
me, an in ne mex place, l been roun' desc
camps long nuff TO know dat de best ting q
niger do on either side was ties keep his
mouf shut jez ez much OF he could. OATS de
way l did"
The porter's philosophy was greeted with q
round OF approving laughter, after which the
Captain, as l shall call him hereafter, who
and confirmation of his narrative. continued /:
Well, gentlemen, l suppose you think I
am a good while coming to the point of my
story, but will not detain you much longer.
1t happened that there was in our regiment,
the - Indiana, q Lieutenant who for no spe.
cial reason was a kind of butt for the sport Of
all the line officers. His name was Bridges
q provocation to ridicule In itself. He was a
BOOu lellOW III MS way, Out MS way was NOT U
popular one. He was not far from forty years
of age, rather below the medium height, with
a squeaky voice and fussy manner-not a bit
of dignity nor power of command in him.
He was quite well educated, however, and
was o successful man of business in the little
town where he lived. He had married a
young wife just before the regiment left for
the field, and 1 think the inclination
to talk about her was the chief reason of our
combining to make fun of him. He knew
he wna hpinp lauphed Mt buf kent on DOING
his duty fairly well-very we'll, I should say,
under the circumstances He was no coward.
but his young wife made him wish to live,
and caused him to be more careful of his
would have been. He had taken a sort of
fancy to me, thinking, perhaps, that l did
not take part in the general mirth at his ex-
pense. / am afraid he was mistaken. Be-
sides that, the Second Lieutenant of his CON-
pany was a great friend of mine, and l was
anxious to see q bar on his shoulder straps.
L should say that l was probably the only
man in the command who was familiar with
the appearance and location of the little Ken
lucky town which was our real destination.
1t was hoped that we would reach it about
daylight of the Goth and defeat or perhaps
capture q force of the enemy supposed to
be stationed there. The Colonel was ambi-
tious, and would spare no effort.
After our little carousal-which was not
extensive enough to produce any unpleasant
results-I looked over matters to see if l had
forgotten any duty and turned in on q bed of
cedar boughs, with a saddle for q pillow. l
was awakened by some one shaking me and
calling my name in excited tones. / was on
my feet in an instant and rushed to the open
ing in the tent to see what was the matter. It
was q beautiful night-the moon nearly at
the full. the air crisp, cool and clear, the
camp silent save for the tread of the sentinels
and the occasional paving of the horses pick
eted in their places. The camp-ires we're
burning low and l could see the row of men
sleeping on their arms near their impromptu
Christmas decorations.